Gabriel Munteanu (ROM) was the oldest medal winner of today. With his 36-years he may be surprised that he’s in the top 3 oldest medal winners ever in a World Cup. Only Belgium’s Robert Vandewalle (BEL) and Natik Bagirov from Belarus were older.
Oldest World Cup winners men
Robert Vandewalle (BEL), 37 years, 8-March 1992 Czech Cup Prague
Natik Bagirov (BLR), 36 years 7 months, 24-June-2001 A Tournament Minsk
Gabriel Munteanu (ROM), 36 years 4 months, 7-June-2009 World Cup Bucharest
Bjarni Fridriksson (ICE), 36 years 1 month, 14-June-1992 ASKO World Tournament Leonding
If Valeriu Perdivara (ROM) had won his semi final against Walter Santos (BRA), he could have been the oldest medal winner ever. But Santos won the +100kg weight class today beating Mitja Jenus (SLO)
In an all Moldavian final Valeriu Duminica beat his compatriot Sergiu Toma U81kg, unique for Moldova. Moldova previously had only two winners of a World Cup ever; Giorgi Kurdgelashvili in 2000 and Sergiu Toma who won the Tournoi de Paris in 2008. Today both fighters made this unique statistic possible. They’re both 22 years, Duminica 3 months younger won.
Under 90kg kilogramme Elkhan Mammadov (AZE) won his ninth World Cup with his win over Milan Randl (SVK).
World junior Champion Lukas Krpálek won the U100kgweight class beating Daniel Hadfi (HUN), perhaps an expected final. Daniel Matei took the bronze for Romania shared with Italy’s Alberto Borin. Krpálek’s medal meant the second victory for the Czech Republic which gave them the victory in the medal tally.
With just 18 years he is one of the youngest ever winners of a World Cup, but still 20 judokas in front of him. He’s however the youngest World Cup winner of this year.
On Saturday a very strong team from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was present in Bucharest to compete at the 2009 World Cup, and they did extremely well. After day one, they led the medal tally.
KIM Chol Su was dominant under 73kg. He was also competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games where he reached the quarterfinal. Today he won five matches, and beat European silver medalist Dex Elmont (NED) in the final by ippon. It was Kim’s first World Cup medal ever in his career.
Under 60 kilo Czech national champion Pavel Petrikov was able to win the final and won his second ever World Cup victory, after winning the Dutch Open in 2006. The European U23 champion beat Anatoliy Laskuta (UKR) in the final and won over SONG Kang Ho (PRK) who became third just like his compatriot KIM Kyong Jin, also as quarterfinalist in Beijing.
Profile Pavel Petrikov
Weight: 60kg
Age: 22
Major honours:
Current U23 European Champion
Gold at the 2009 World Cup of Bucharest
Gold at the 2006 World Cup of Rotterdam
current Czech Republic Champion.
Major European rivals:
Yekutiel Gal (ISR), Ludwig Paischer (AUT), Nestor Khergiani (GEO), Ruben Houkes (NED), Jeroen Mooren (NED), James Millar (GBR), Arsen Galstyan (RUS), Elio Verde (ITA).
Sun of Pavel Petrikov Sr., 1981 World Championships runner-up.
Pawel Zagrodnik won the U66 weight class. He booked his First World Cup win ever by beating Loic Korval (FRA). PAK Chol Min (PRK) shared bronze with Fabrice Flamand (BEL). Romania’s hope Dan Fasie perished in the first round and couldn’t contribute to Romania’s empty tally after day 1.
By Hans van Essen, EJU Media and PR Director